Triple J Exec Supports Changing Hottest 100 Date: ‘Sometimes the Majority Has to Stand Up for the Minority’

A Triple J executive has defended the case for moving the Hottest 100 countdown from Australia Day, because “sometimes the majority has to stand up for the minority”.

Ollie Wards, the station’s content director, said the decision to keep the date for 2017 came after a whole heap of discussions with senior management at the ABC.

Wards explained to the Guardian that while he may have an opinion as a person, he has to work within the systems of Triple J and the public broadcaster. "My role here is going to be to weigh up two political decisions and try to [make the decision] that has the best net outcome,” he said.

There have been mounting pressures to move the music countdown from Australia Day to an alternative date. For some, the celebration of Australia Day on January 26 is considered culturally insensitive, given it marks the start of British invasion of Australia in 1788.

It was announced on Tuesday the station would still celebrate 2017’s Australia Day with the Hottest 100, but future years are under review. Wards thinks some people may be critical and upset over a future date change, but hopes—if it does happen—that those people would “have a little empathy”.

“[Moving the Hottest 100] might not be the most popular decision but when people have a little bit of empathy for those in the minority, hopefully they’ll realise that there’s something broader and more important than the particular day that they want to do this cool thing,” he told the Guardian.

There are a few reasons why Triple J hasn't changed the date yet, besides public controversy. Firstly, the being a public broadcaster, the ABC has a formal partnership with the Australia Day council. Secondly, there are concerns about whether changing the date would reduce the audience. While the station has literally no data to prove fewer people would tune in, Wards thinks “people associate [the poll] with a particular day and have for several years”.

Consultations about the date change will continue in coming months, Wards confirms. It’s understood some kind of clarity will be reached by October next year.

In the meantime, who do you think will take the cake this year? Here are the likely winners.

Photo: Facebook (@triplej)